Chris DeMakes - Less Than Jake guitarist Posted: May 27, 2020
I am not sure where to even begin here. This one is probably the one that has affected me the most. I grew up listening to Chris band Less Than Jake, possibly began listening as young as 12 years old. I would later go to finally see them live at a local venue and met him and bass player Roger Lima after the show. They seemed really nice and signed my cd. Later they invited my friends and I to this tiny hole in the wall bar nearby. I don’t even think my friends and I were old enough to drink yet but somehow got in. I saw them many times but he started getting weird and creepy towards me so I started to distance myself while still going to the shows and listening to the music. Things got bad at one point where I couldn’t even attend an event or show for other bands without him seeing me and making a bee line right towards me or looking for me when he caught wind I was there while I was trying to avoid him. He has made some of the most disgusting comments towards me that were straight up sexual harassment and made me extremely uncomfortable. I’ve never been into him in any way, shape or form and have never led him on. For a while prior to this beginning I’d get drunk at shows and go in the pit but I never hung out with him alone or flirted with him. I was with some friends after a show and at one point I was alone for a little bit. He was heavily intoxicated and came up to me and said something like “I’m getting desperate here, will you give me a blow job?”, slurring his words. I was very shocked to hear that come out of his mouth and was like “Excuse me?!?!”. I don’t recall if anything else was said but he made me uncomfortable. Later I saw him take 2 girls on his bus, they looked like they could be around 20 years old. Another time I was looking for my friends and he was drunk and approached me saying things like “I want to have unprotected butt sex with you.” even though it was blatantly obvious that I was uncomfortable and didn’t want to talk to him. I’m sure he finds this stuff funny and these are only two of the many times he has said things like that.
I couldn’t listen to the band anymore without feeling sick so I sold all my merch and cds from the band. If they come on the radio I start having a panic attack and change the channel. It really sucks because I used to really like their music but he ruined it for me. I haven’t seen Less Than Jake in years and if they play a festival I am at I stay far away from the stage they’re on so I do not have to hear or see them.
He’s done stuff to two friends of mine including received nudes from one who was barely legal. I can’t share their stories because they’re not my stories to share but if they ever want to come forward I’ll be there to support them. If anyone else has had similar (or worse experiences) can contact me and tell me their story. If you want me to anonymously share your story let me know.












